Barbara Clevenger was born May 6, 1932 and lived the first 18 years of her life in Mineral, Washington. Shortly after graduating as valedictorian from Morton High School in 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, Ladd Johnson. The two moved to Chico, California, in 1951 to attend college. Completing first a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and then a master of arts in education degree from Chico State College, Barbara eventually went on to earn a doctorate at UCLA in 1970.

A born teacher, Barbara touched the lives of countless students and instructors in the many classrooms she presided over, from her first-grade students at Chico Elementary to the education students at Chico State where she taught from 1960 to 1995. During her tenure at CSU, Barbara also served as Chair of the Education Department, Director of Credentials and Student Teaching, Director of Liberal Studies, and Director of the Intercultural Center.

Although Barbara did not begin painting until after she retired, her artistic talent was soon as obvious as her teaching skills had been. Focusing on scenes from life and nature, her works capture the simple beauty and joy that she saw everywhere in life.